Browne or Neil; Neil or Browne.

Who will get the nod in central midfield for Sunderland’s trip to Plymouth this weekend?

Will it be homegrown talent Dan Neil who has started every game until forced to sit out the trip to Portsmouth ahead of the international break through suspension?

Or the experienced summer signing Alan Browne, who made such an impression at Fratton Park in Neil’s absence - and also got on the scoresheet - in the 3-1 win on the South Coast?

Maybe Regis Le Bris will find a way to shoehorn both into the starting XI at Home Park, just as he did at Cardiff City on the opening day of the campaign, and it will be either Chris Rigg or Jobe Bellingham left on the outside looking in.

Decisions, decisions.

Le Bris wasn’t giving away any clues on his team selection plans when he spoke ahead of this weekend’s epic trek to deepest, darkest, Devon.

But, whatever he ultimately decides to do, you can be certain that this is one dilemma that will make the Frenchman grin rather than grimace.

I’ve splashed plenty of ink in recent weeks and months bemoaning Sunderland’s lack of striking options - and it remains a nagging doubt that just won’t go away, particularly with the news this week that deadline day striker signing Ahmed Abdullahi will be sidelined until Christmas - but for now let’s park that and give credit where credit is due.

Le Bris’ midfield selection poser is a sign of the strength that Sunderland possess in that area of the pitch.

Pierre Ekwah was a mainstay of the club’s midfield last season, featuring in 40 out of 46 league games, with 37 of those appearances coming as part of the starting line-up.

And yet the emergence of rising star Rigg, the arrival of Browne, the presence of Adil Aouchiche, and the deadline day signings of Salis Abdul Samed and Milan Aleksic, meant that Ekwah had slipped so far down the pecking order that he has been farmed out to Saint Etienne on a season-long loan in a deal expected to be the precursor to a £7m permanent move.

The prospect of Ekwah being unceremoniously squeezed out in quite this manner would have been unthinkable 12 months ago - or even, for that matter, as recently as the January transfer window when Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Fulham were reportedly keen on signing him.

It is tangible evidence of the fact that Sunderland have worked hard in recent transfer windows to add depth to their squad in midfield, defence, and in wide areas.

That has contributed to their flying start this season and it bodes well for the future as they look to maintain their early momentum.

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Regis Le Bris has taken to life this side of the Channel like a duck to water and his perfect start at Sunderland has earned him the EFL Championship Manager of the Month award for August.

With four wins out of four, the Black Cats top of the table, and the team playing eye-catching football, there has been a surge of positivity on Wearside - and with good reason.

Of course, everybody knows that there will be challenges ahead. That 100 percent start cannot go on indefinitely.

But savour it for as long as it lasts - and hopefully it continues this weekend.

Five successive wins would make this the best start to a league season in the club’s history.